St. Mary the Virgin, Stotfold Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the Year ended 31st December 2025 Administrative Information St. Mary's Church is situated off Church Road in Stotfold. It is part of the Diocese of St. Albans within the Church of England. The correspondence address is: The Vicarage, 61 Church Road, Stotfold, Hitchin, SG5 4NE. The PCC is a charity registered with the Charity Commission, No. 1131275 PCC members who served since the APCM in 2025 were: The Incumbent Rev Bill Britt* Associate Minister with Rev Graham Clark Special responsibility as chaplain to schools Curate Rev Emma-Jane Wilkinson The Churchwardens Mrs. Jenny Bennett * (Vice Chairperson) Mr. Paddy Harris* Representatives on Mrs. Alison Collis* (Secretary/Treasurer) the Deanery Synod. Mrs Carolyn Bleach Elected PCC Members: Mrs Sara Clark Mrs. Jenny Conway Mr. Steven Fletcher Mrs. Jane Hyde Mrs. Doreen Paterson Mrs. Carole Taylor Mr. Chris Thorne Mrs. Maureen Winters Mr. Kevin Daly Mrs Lyn Hayes Sara Clark Safeguarding Officer Assistant Safeguarding Officer Those asterisked* are members of the Standing Committee. Service on the PCC is usually for three years at a time; with a break of at least one year after six consecutive years. ## **COMMITTEES** The PCC operates through committees which make recommendations to the PCC. The primary object of the PCC is promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. It co-operates with the ministers in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has a legal duty of care and formal responsibility for safeguarding children, youth people and vulnerable adults. ## **Standing Committee** This is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PСС between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the council. ## **Finance and Stewardship Committee** This committee has an overview of the general finances of the work of St. Mary's by monitoring income and expenditure, budgeting and coordinating the Annual Review of the Christian Stewardship of money through planned giving. ## **Social and Fundraising Committee** Encourages fellowship within the family of the Church by organizing social events and the raising of money for the General Fund. ## **Hall Committee** Organizes the letting of the hall and is responsible for keeping the building in repair. ## **Building Committee** Oversees the repair and maintenance of the Church building and the churchyard in consultation with the Church Architect. ## **Charities** The Ecclesiastical Charity of William Field, No. 254218 The Vicar and churchwardens are trustees of the following charities: The Eleemosynary Charity, No. 25419 The Roe's Charity for the Parish Clerk, No. 217126 The Roe's Almshouses Charity, No. 217125 The Roe's Education Charity, No. 307485 H.O. Roe Charity, No. 1190706 St. Mary's Church banks with Barclays PLC. It holds a portfolio of shares via CCLA relating to the Ecclesiastical Charity of William Field and two deposit accounts with the same organization. It has an account with the Churches Mutual Credit Union and money and shares held by the Diocese for the chancel. The Independent examiner is Sue Matejtschuk of SCM Accountancy Services. The church's legal advisers are the Joint Diocesan Registrars, Matthew Chinery and Sarah Clemenson of Winckworth Sherwood. The Church Architectural advisers are Barker Associates LLP. ## **Ministerial Team** Rev Bill Britt is the Rector of St Mary's the Virgin, Stotfold. Rev Graham Clark is licensed to the parish as Associate Minister with special responsibility as chaplain to schools. This is a locally-funded post. Rev Emma-Jane Wilkinson was the Curate until she left in September to become the Vicar of King Charles the Martyr, Potters Bar. Mr. Steve Hardman was a Lay Leader of Worship, until he moved from the Parish. ## **Performance and achievements** The PCC and church operates for the benefit for all the people living in Stotfold and Fairfield. Our vision is: “We aim to grow our church as a spiritual and worshipping centre of our parish and for our church family to share our walk of faith in Christ together with the community.” During 2025 our Usual Sunday Attendance (USA), excluding Christmas and Easter, was 56, an increase of one. During the month of October, the average weekly attendance of all services was 104. Our Easter Eve & Day attendance was 86. Attendance at Advent services for the congregation, community and schools totalled 756. Christmas Eve and Day services was 450. During 2025 we held 11 Christenings, 1 wedding and 26 funerals. Our Electoral Roll was completely revised and stood at 82, down from 87 the previous year. We continue to provide a space with hospitality where people can ask questions and discuss faith. Our Sunday evening discussion groups for seekers which began meeting in the Roecroft Centre in 2024 has grown to 10-12 people. Our monthly youth group has grown to the point where we meet in the Roecroft Centre rather than the Vicarage. We continue to hold fellowship meals at the Roecroft Centre for different groups within our Church. We serve our community through a variety of activities. Our ministers regularly lead services at St Mary’s Academy and church members are part of the Churches Together Open the Book Team, which acts out Bible Stories in the three lower Schools. We host a weekly baby and toddler group and a Sunday School on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. We hold services twice a month at the Fairfield Manor Care Home. We host a monthly Community Coffee Morning in Church in partnership with pupils from the Academy of Central Bedfordshire. We host Civic Services for Remembrance Sunday and this year we marked VE Day and VJ Day. We hire out our Church Hall as a Community Centre for local groups and individuals. ## **Financial Review** During 2025 our expenditure exceeded our income by £7,493. The operating deficit was covered by reserves. The year end balance in the Unrestricted General Fund was £54,471 and the Designated Fund is £25,694. Total giving on Sunday mornings (including the Parish Giving Scheme, cash collections in services and the envelope scheme and Gift Aid) was £37,750, compared to £37,339, in 2024, a 1% increase. The 2025 Diocesan Parish Share for St Mary's Church was £56,966, which largely provides the stipends, pension and housing for clergy and training of future ministers. Reserves Policy It is PCC policy to maintain a balance, if possible, on unrestricted funds that equates to approximately three months unrestricted payments to cover emergency situations which may arise from time to time. Approved at the PCC on 16 March 2026 Signed by PCC Chairman Approved at the APCM on 10 May 2026 Signed by the APCM Chairman Parochial Church Councll of St Mary the Vlryln, Stotfold Balance Shoet at 31 December 2025 2026 Inve8trnent a888ts 801,364 834,736 CURREKf ASSErs 13.245 Ca8h at bank and In hand 107 873 Cuffent UabllStbo• NEf CURREKf A88Ef8 96.513 93,lJ)3 TOTAL NEf A88Ef8 897.877 927.739 FUND8 Unr88tr1rt•d 54.471 61,984 25.189 14,945 4.731 8W2.767 arnl •lgned on Its behalf ty: Tho Revd. 811 Bthl Patrld( J.P. Harr l>wly No. 1131275 1(d9 Parochl•l Church Councll of St IAary th• Vlryln. Stotfold Statement of Fln•nclal Acllvltles For the y￿r •ndlng 31 Doc•mbor 2026 /////// /' /' 2• 41,￿8 2b 1& 7.1 18AOS fy1.321 18.5 7,1Li8 51.C05 17.1x1 7.112 102 14,156 110,418 110,955 1.(fj1 158 3¢ 22e4 115 629 ￿￿>37 3.S10 3m 43.3r4 .7A93 S(XS 10314 49,862 •314 61,984 2Q189 4.TJ1 8¥855 927.rn 964.ffj1 2019 Parochlal Church Councll of St Mary tho Vlryin. Stotfold Nots8 to the Flnancial Statements For the year end 31 Docembor 2026 3rf9 Parochlal Church Councll of St Mary the Vlryln. Stotlold Notes to the Flnanclal Statomonts For the year end 31 December 2025 4d9 Parochlal Church Council of St Mary tho Wirgln, Stotfold Notes to the Flnanclal Ststomont• For the v•ar •nd 31 Docombor 2025 ////////'/* I8.￿2 18.852 20228 4.762 32( 4.eA3 5.032 7.795 8.910 1.878 1.933 8.717 10.751 14.841 118 319 $78 321 51 IX5 safv 181 Chwth hdl 9,685 9J22 3. 1248 1,m 413 2.(￿1 139 16￿ 17180 18.059 501 7m6 7.078 7.1C 102 102 22.￿￿ 23.458 1￿51 1,851 1.787 Hlre ofchwth 1.1 137 179 179 ftk) Curnt• 119 139 104 5rl• Parochial Church Councll of St Mary the Virgin. Stotfold Notes to the Flnancial Statements For th• vear •nd 31 D•wnb•r 2025 150 150 160 150 56,W 54.957 1.178 8.LW IIX 6.￿ 8,340 8.483 7.138 1.851 5243 5.091 14.324 22.17T 131 *￿8$h 131 1785 3250 1,473 110416 110955 $42 441 451 1213 451 1213 19 19 0 ￿386 1051 158 158 140 0 48,￿ 2 473 48 146 11XI3fj0 115029 1 8019 Parochlal Church Councll of St Mary the Vlrgin, Stotfold Not08 to the Flnancial Statemonts For tho year end 31 DK•mb•r 2025 4 FIXED ASSEf8 43.3n 5 AIIALYSI8 OF MET As￿8 BY FUMD 65.$￿ 25.em 15287 1.403 107,8TJ 1.851 10,39B 3.528 8,￿1 11 STAFF COSTS 1213 7rf9 Parochlal Church Council of St Mary tho Vlrgln, Stotfold Notes to the Flnanclal Statem•nts For th• v•ar end 31 D•cffiiber 2025 FUIID DETAU $74 574 Bkn'n H*• 1,178 877 6T1 1035 1(aM) 10.(Mr 25￿ 25189 9.394 9.443 793 3n 828 412 Indepond•nt Examlnorf• R•port to th• trusto0• ol St IAary'8 Church. Stotlold. Parochlal Church Councll. I report on the accounts for the year erKled 31 December 2025 thich are set (xrt on paga8 1 to 8. Ro8POCllv• r•spon8lbllltle• of tho Tr￿te￿ and tho Indepond•nt oxamlner As trustees of th6 chwity, the members of the PCC are responsible for ts preparalion of the accounts. They conspjer that an audit is not requir￿1 for this year urkler 8ection 144 (2) of the Char￿e9 Act 2011 (ts 2011 Act) that an Indep￿ examinat*)n is required. ft is my responsibility to . examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Art • follow the procedures laid do￿ in the General Directs0￿ given by the Charity Commi88ioner8 section 145 (5)(b) of the 2011 Act. ar#J Ba•1• of Indep•nd•nt ExamSnerf• Statem•nt My examination was (xrried oui in acoxdanc* v￿th the General Direction8 given by the Charity Commission . An examination indudes a review of the accouMiNJ record8 kept by the thafity and a comparison of the acxounts presen￿ with those reLY)rds. li al80 ifbdudes ccA)8￿n of any unusual item8 or disclosures in the a